2: Patient Population Stratification by Risk Level
Stroke affects millions of Americans and can result in disability and eventual death. According to the American Heart Association (2016), stroke is common among individuals aged above 55 years old. Overall, the probability of a person having a stroke doubles every ten after age 55. The risk further increases if any member of one’s parents, siblings, or grandparents has been a victim of a stroke. The family history statistic means that most strokes occur as symptoms of various genetic ailments such as CADASIL. CADASIL happens as a result of a mutated gene that results in damage to blood vessels in one’s brain, causing a blockage in blood flow. In most families, children of CADASIL parents have a 50 percent chance of getting the disease in their later lives (American Heart Association, 2016).
It is worth noting that members of the African-American race have a higher chance of getting a stroke than their White American counterparts. The statistic is huge because African-Americans are an at-risk population when it comes to contributory conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and HBP. AHA (2016) finds that stroke affects and kills/disables more women than men. The AHA pins these findings to pregnancy, gestational diabetes, oral contraceptives, birth control pills, and smoking.
Finally, the risk of stroke is higher in people who have experienced prior stroke and heart attacks than those who have not. Previous attacks exist as warning signs that individuals would have a major stroke in future. Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are an example of such attacks. They display mild stroke-like symptoms that act as warnings yet sure stroke predictors. TIA victims have a ten-fold higher likelihood of getting a stroke than their non-TIA peers of similar age, race, and sex (American Heart Association, 2016).
Reference
American Heart Association. (2016). Stroke Risk Factors. Retrieved from American Heart Association Web site: http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/AboutStroke/UnderstandingRisk/Understanding-Stroke-Risk_UCM_308539_SubHomePage.jsp
2: Questionnaire
Signed
A: Physician Assessment
B: General Assessment (Indicate as directed)
All: Does you/ your natural family (parents, siblings, grandparents) have a history of?
Women Only:
How many women in your biological family have ever had heart and blood related conditions?
Have you ever been pregnant?
When was your last pregnancy?
Have you/are you on any form of birth control?
All: Please indicate which number best describes your response to each of the statements provided.
Use the following scale:
Never
Occasionally
Often
Very often
Always
Does not apply
How often do you take alcohol?
How often do you smoke?
Are you engaged in/seriously planning to make any of the following changes to keep healthy or improve your health?
Increase physical activity:
Lose weight:
Reduce alcohol intake:
Quit smoking:
Reduce cholesterol intake:
Lower blood pressure:
Learn stress coping skills:
Thank you.
